fire. Pine nuts were eaten whole or pounded into flour that was made into porridge or mixed with other MONTEREY PINE foods. The young, male catkins are edible and said to have a nice flavor either raw or cooked (Couplan Pinus radiata D. Don 1998). During heavy winters or times of scarcity the plant symbol = PIRA2 inner bark of pine trees would serve as an emergency food. Contributed by: USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center The needles of pines, which contain vitamin C, were brewed into a tea that was drunk to treat headaches (Heinsen 1972). The Costanoan and others chewed pine resin to treat rheumatism. This resin or pitch was used as a salve that was applied to burns and sores. Pine resins were useful as glue or sealant. Pine resin was also chewed as gum. Pine nuts were burned into charcoal, crushed, and then applied to both sores and burns. Various Native American tribes used the split roots of many pine species as the foundation to make fish traps, seed beaters, burden and many other types of baskets (Murphey 1959). The inner portions of slender new pine twigs could be processed into sewing materials (Barrett & Gifford 1933). © Charles Webber California Academy of Sciences Livestock: Goats browse on Monterey pines. @ Calflora Wildlife: Black-tailed deer browse the leaves and Alternate Names branches of Monterey pine. Porcupines are known to Insignias pine, radiata pine, Cambria pine browse on leaves and branches as well as eat the bark. Small mammals including deer mice, Uses chipmunks, and ground squirrels eat the seeds. Ethnobotanic: The seeds of all pine species are edible Among the birds that eat the seeds are scrub jays, and pine nuts have historically been an important Stellar jays, and crows. Nesting chestnut-backed food utilized by many Native American tribes (Strike chickadees have been observed to obtain almost 80% 1994). Pines were also valued for their wood, sap, of their insect diet from foraging in Monterey pine and pine needles. Because of its restricted range, few trees (Kleintjes & Dahlsten 1994). tribes used Monterey pine. The Costanoan and probably the Salinan relied on the seeds as a source Other: Monterey pine is used for erosion control and of food in coastal areas of their territory. Pedro stabilization of steep slopes because it is fast growing Fages (1937) describes the California Indians in the and has a wide spreading root system. The trees are Monterey area as using many kinds of pine nuts and sometimes used as Christmas trees. among them those of Monterey pine. He writes, “the cones of the pine tree are small, and the nuts are Status extremely so, but very good and pleasing to the taste. The California Native Plant Society considers The method of gathering them is to build a fire at the Monterey pine rare in its native range. Please consult foot of the tree, which in a few hours falls, making the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of the fruit available without difficulty” (Fages 1937; Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. 68-69). Many bedrock mortars are found adjacent to threatened or endangered species, state noxious Monterey pine forests, which may be additional status, and wetland indicator values). evidence of their use by both tribes (Leonard 1963). The closed cones of Monterey pines were probably a Weediness particularly valuable resource because they remain on This plant may become weedy or invasive in some the tree and can therefore be harvested all through the regions or habitats and may displace desirable year. The closed cones open in response to heat and vegetation if not properly managed. Please consult could be easily opened by placing them on or near a with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative species is one of the 18 California species of pines Extension Service office, or state natural resource or and cypresses that bear closed cones (Dallman agriculture department regarding its status and use. 1998:27). The remaining stands of Monterey pine Weed information is also available from the are threatened by numerous factors including PLANTS Web site at: http://plants.usda.gov. urbanization, recreational development, and fire suppression, pests and diseases. Fire suppression has Description resulted in very old stands of forest, which are more General: Pine family (Pinaceae). Monterey pines are susceptible to attacks from pests and diseases. In the native to California and Baja California where they Monterey area, the trees are seriously threatened by occur in only a few small populations. Mature an epidemic of “pine pitch canker”, a fungal disease Monterey pines can reach 38 m in height with trunks caused by Fusarium subglutans pini. This fungus up to 2 m in diameter. The young trees begin as was recently introduced to California from the compact pyramids but age into varied shapes. The southeastern United States and is carried from tree to adult canopy is usually rounded to flat-topped. tree by several native insects including the Monterey Along the Pacific coast, the winds sculpt Monterey pine cone beetle (Conophthorus radiatae), twig pine canopies into picturesque shapes. The bark is beetles (Pitophthorus spp.) and engraver beetles (Ips red-brown to blackish brown and has deep furrows. spp.). Indigenous stands of Monterey pine are also The leaves are glossy, dark green needles, 6-15 cm threatened by genetic contamination, which results long that grow in bundles of three. Needles on older from crossbreeding with planted trees that were trees are sometimes a bluish green. Flowers appear brought in from other areas. in late winter or early spring. The trees are monoecious; having both male and female flowers Adaptation (McDonald & Laacke 1990). The yellow male Monterey pines are adapted to soils of medium to catkins are 12mm long and are generally found on the heavy texture. Monterey pines have serotinous cones lateral branches. Female flowers grow throughout that do not release the seeds unless subjected to high the entire canopy. The grayish brown cones are temperatures. Superheating may occur on very hot asymmetrically oval, 6 to 15 cm long, and are born days or during fire events. Because hot days do not on short stalks in clusters of 3 to 7 cones. The scales often occur in the Central Coast of California, are smooth and rounded. Each cone contains from replenishment of the seed bank is highly dependant 120 to 200 dark brown to black, bumpy winged seeds on fire (Hillyard 1997). that are 6-7mm long. The cones remain closed on the tree until the second year or sometimes longer. Establishment Cones generally ripen and open from late winter to Monterey pines are ornamental as well as useful. early spring of the second year. Thereafter, they may This species is the most widely cultivated pine in the remain on the tree where they can open and close world (Templeton et al. 1997). Monterey pines are several times depending on temperature and also the most widely planted trees for choose-and-cut moisture. The close-grained wood is light and soft. Christmas tree farms in California. They are Although it is not considered an important lumber excellent shade trees, act as effective wind and sound tree in California, it has been widely planted in areas barriers, and have been used for erosion control. with Mediterranean climates throughout the world for use as lumber and pulp. Be careful to select a proper place to plant these fast growing trees. Monterey pines are the most rapid Distribution: Monterey pines are native to California growing pine of over 90 species that occur in the and Baja California. Native Monterey pine forests world (Labadie 1978). Young trees can grow up to 2 occupy a small portion of their historical range and meters per year, generally reaching from 12 to 18 are currently restricted to five coastal locations: Año meters within 25 years. The trees have an average Nuevo in the north, the Monterey Peninsula, life span of 80 to 90 years. Cambria, and on Guadalupe and Cedros islands off the coast of Baja, California in the south. These trees require deep, well drained, medium to course textured soils of medium fertility. Trees that For current distribution, please consult the Plant are planted on shallow or waterlogged soils may be Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web unstable because of shallow vertical roots. Monterey site. pines can be damaged or killed in areas where temperatures reach below freezing. Habitat: Monterey pines grow below 1200 meters in closed cone pine forests and oak woodlands. The Monterey pines are usually transplanted from Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and containers or bare rootstock grown by commercial area of origin) nurseries. However, these plants usually come from These plants are readily available from commercial New Zealand stock. Even though the New Zealand sources. Request plants established from native stock originated from California populations, California rather than New Zealand stock. crossbreeding with native populations is considered a If you are planting trees in areas near native stands, threat to the native population’s conservation because be sure the seeds or seedlings are from the same of genetic contamination (Cope 1993). genetic stock as those stands.
Seed may propagate Monterey pine trees. Handpick References mature cones from the trees or from the ground. Air- Barrett, S.A. & E.W. Gifford 1933. Miwok material dry opened cones by spreading them in a sunny, dry culture: Indian life of the Yosemite region. Bulletin place. To open closed cones, drop them into boiling of Milwaukee Public Museum Vol. 2, No. 4. water for 1 to 2 minutes or more, if needed. Remove Yosemite Association, Yosemite National Park, CA. the seeds from the cones by shaking them out. 388 pp. Although the cones require heat in order to release the seeds, the seeds do not generally require Brenzel, K.N., Editor 2001. Western garden book. pretreatment in order to germinate. One to three Sunset Publishing Corp., Menlo Park, CA. 768 pp. weeks of cold-moist stratification may improve germination, especially for seeds that have been Burns, R.M. & B.H. Honkala 1990. Silvics of North stored (Emery 1988). Monterey pines are not American, Volume 1, Conifers. Agricultural generally propagated by cuttings as, even with Handbook 654, Forest Service, U.S. Department of bottom heat, the cuttings may take four or more Agriculture, Washington D.C. Pp. 443-441. months to form roots. Cope, Amy B. 1993. Pinus radiata. IN: U.S. Management Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Established trees require occasional deep watering Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory accompanied by a light fertilization to remain 2001, May. Fire Effects Information System, healthy. To control the size of the tree, and to [Online]. Available: increase bushiness, the new growth, called candles, http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/. [Accessed: 20 may be pruned in the spring as they appear. Remove October 2001]. dead or dying branches. Couplan, F. 1998. The encyclopedia of edible plants Pests and Potential Problems of North America. Keats Publishing, New Canaan, Western dwarf mistletoe, western gall rust, various Connecticut. 584 pp. needle blights, pitch moth, red turpentine beetle, pitch canker, Monterey pine scale, irregular pine Dallman, P.R. 1998. Plant life in the world’s scale, pine leaf scale, aphids, mites, pine tip borer, Mediterranean climates: California. Fremontia, Vol. pine tip moth. 26, No. 2. Pp18-27.
Environmental Concerns Emery, D.E. 1988. Seed propagation of native Although Monterey pines are threatened in their California plants. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, present native habitat, they have been considered a Santa Barbara, California. 115 pp. weedy pest in some areas of California where they have escaped cultivation. Millar (1998) uses fossil Fages, P. 1937. A historical, political, and natural evidence to support an alternate view: that Monterey description of California. Translation by H.I. pine populations have historically shifted in size and Priestley, University of California Press, Berkeley, location along the California and Baja coasts in California. 83 pp. response to changing climate. She suggests, that in order to allow for the continued survival of Monterey Heinsen, V. 1972. The medicinal herbs of Mission pines, establishment of new stands of native stock San Antonio de Padua. Lockwood, California. 46 pp. within the pine’s historical range should be considered as opportunities for their conservation and not as a threat to other native species. Heizer, R.F. & A.B. Elsasser 1980. The natural world of the California Indians. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, Webber, C. 1998. Pinus radiata. California California. 271 pp. Academy of Sciences. Digital Library Project, Hickman, J.D., Editor 1993. The Jepson manual: University of California, Berkeley. [Online] Higher plants of California. University of California Available: http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query? Press, Berkeley, California. 1400 pp. seq_num=17181&one=T. [15 October 2001].
Hillyard, D. 1997. Challenges in conserving Young, J. A. & C.G. Young 1992. Seeds of woody Monterey pine forest. Fremontia, Vol. 15, No. 2. Pp. plants in North America. Dioscorides Press, 16-20. Portland, Oregon. Pp. 248-266.
Kleintjes, P.K. & D.L. Dahlsten 1994. Foraging Prepared By: behavior and nestling diet of chestnut-backed Diana L. Immel chickadees in Monterey pine. The Condor, Vol. 96. USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Pp. 647-653. Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis, California Labadie, E.L. 1978. Native plants for use in the California landscape. Sierra City Press, Sierra City, Species Coordinator: California. 248 pp. M. Kat Anderson USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Leonard, N. N. 1968. Part 1: Salvage investigations Environmental Horticulture Department, University at the Pico Creek. Archaeological salvage of the of California, Davis, California Pico Creek and Little Pico Creek sites, in Luis Obispo County, California. Archives of California Edited: 05apr02 ahv Archaeology Paper No. 4. Coyote Press, Salinas, California. For more information about this and other plants, please contact your local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Schmidt, M.G. 1980. Growing California native plants. University of California Press, Berkeley, California. 366 pp.
Strike, S.S. 1994. Ethnobotany of the California Indians Vol. 2: Aboriginal uses of California’s indigenous plants. Koeltz Scientific Books USA, Champaign, Illinois. 210 pp.